Tonight from 8:30 to 10:30, there will be an important Miss Universe press conference to be held at Crocus City Mall in Moscow, Russia
Important guests who are expected to come are: Chulpan Khamatova, Dina Korzun (Gift of Life Foundation), Paula M. Shugart, president of Miss Universe Organization, and Emina Agalarova, Vice-President, Crocus Group.
There will be a red carpet for Russian and foreign celebrities.
The most heartwarming about this seemingly unimportant press conference is the attendance of the Filipino Community here in Moscow who will come tonight to support our very own candidate Miss Philippines Universe-Ariella Arida! Mabuhay Philippines.
Here are the flaglets and Ara Arida photos to be given to shoppers and the media who will cover the event
Proof positive that we Filipinos are still the most supportive pageant fans in the entire world
Here are some of the official photos of Ara Arida, our Miss Universe candidate who is aiming to duplicate the Miss World victory of Megan Young.
If that happens, we will be joining France 1953, Australia 1972, Venezuela 1981 and India 1994 and 2000 in the exclusive club of countries that won both the Miss Universe and Miss World crowns the same year
This is her official Fadil Berisha Glamour Photo that is an interpretation of this year's "Ice Princess" theme.
This photo is being talked about as one of the best glamour shots for the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant
CONTROVERSIAL INTERVIEW
Prior to her arrival in Moscow, Russia where she is currently one of the favorite girls of the Muscovites, Ara got herself enmeshed in a controversy involving Latina beauties in general.
During a TV appearance in ANC, news anchor Karen Davila asked her address the concern of pageant fans that she seemed to have a problem expressing herself in English
Ara Arida with ANC Anchor Karen Davila
In a very humble and sincere manner, she admitted that speaking English is not really her strongest point.
She then cited the Latinas as doing very well in pageants inspite the fact that they couldn't construct a simple sentence in English.
Arida then replied that she's aware of the said comment and she had training, especially with her communication skills, to "express myself, to convey my message to the people."
The beauty queen added that Filipinos are more critical when it comes to the English language.
"Latinas cannot even speak a sentence, right? I mean, a complete sentence in English. I think it's the Filipinos who are very critical about this," she said.
I think what she was trying was that one doesn't have to be fluent in English to be able to answer the final question
THE CONTROVERSIAL TV INTERVIEW
The said comment of Arida caught the attention of pageant websites around the world. Radio personality Mo Twister joined the fray and expressed his disgust on what Miss Philippines said
My take on the matter?
If one is to take Ara's statement literally, then yes, she is guilty as sin but for someone who has admitted that she's not really that fluent in English, then let's give her a break.
It was simply a matter of miscommunication and not saying it in a more tactful manner.
And if it is any consolation for Ara, the fact that she is already embroiled in a controversy would only mean that she is considered a frontrunner and therefore a threat for the crown
For the meantime, my advice for her is to enjoy the whole experience and bring home a lifetime of wonderful memories
And here's some more good news from Moscow, Russia where our very own Miss Philippines Ara Arida is battling it out with 86 other ladies for the 2013 Miss Universe crown
After being picked as one of 27 girls to model in the prestigious Mercedes Benz -Tony Ward Fashion Couture, Ara, together with the following Miss Universe 2013 contestants were chosen to be a part of the Mercedes-Benz TV Commercial: Miss Austria Doris Hofmann, Miss Germany Anne-Julia Hagen, Miss Mexico Cynthia Duque, Miss Poland Paulina Krupinska and Miss Russia Elmira Abdrazakova.
The TV ad will start showing in the Russian airways after the Miss Universe pageant until the end of the year.
This would only mean that our candidate must have impressed the corporate sponsors so much that they have picked her to be one of the commercial endorsers for the luxury car brand
Remember, aside from being a spokesperson for the Miss Universe Org, this year's Miss Universe winner will also be product endorser and commercial model for MUO's pageant sponsors
Despite the icy wintry forecast in
Moscow, Russia and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, the presence of dozens of leggy
and curvaceous stunners from around the world who are vying in the 2013 Miss
Universe Pageant have sent temperatures rising as the 87 girls preened and posed for the white
hot bikini shoot at the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Center
Yamamay Swimwear is sponsoring the official
swimwear worn during the red hot bikini photo shoot
Here are some of the girls who already had their bikini shoot
The 62nd annual Miss Universe
Pageant is scheduled on November 9 at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia
Olivia Culpo of the United States is this year's reigning Miss Universe. Her 1st Runner Up is our very own Janine Tugonon
Ariela Ara Arida, a cum laude BS
Chemistry graduate from UP Los Banos , is representing our country
Right after a pre- nuptial photo and
video shoot that we did for Borgy and Glenda, ace Boholano photographer Dennis
Saco organized a ragtag team of volunteers as a response to the call to help
fellow Boholanos who have been hit the hardest by a 7.2 killer quake that
struck our province last October 15.
The province is still trying to regain
its lost footing and hope to rise again and rebuild the badly hit areas
particularly in the northwestern area of the province
Dennis never had the slightest inkling
that the group would become one of the teams that would get the attention of
donors especially when the group started posting in Facebook and Twitter.
Next came the national and international
press like BBC, New York Times, Bloomberg, Time Magazine, ABC CBC News.
The media were particularly interested to buy the rights to a two minute video
that captured the devastation in Dauis minutes after the quake struck
Loon's famous coral steps Photo Credit: Chrismael Caldo
Maribojoc's Punta Cruz Tower was not spared from the tremorsPhoto Credit: Chrismael Caldo
Tent cities have sprouted in many areas of the provincePhoto Credit: Chrismael Caldo
The response to the call for volunteers
has been overwhelming too especially from the youth & student sector and
from young professionals like nurses.
We also have colleagues in the Bohol
wedding suppliers sector and scores of Boholano photographers who have extended
assistance
The next logical step right after a
semblance of order had been established was to have an official name for the
group for identity & transparency purposes.
Potential donors and volunteers have
been asking for the name of the group and we couldn’t come up with a name
because of other pressing concerns
Anyway, I’m very proud to inform
everyone that the private sector based- volunteer group that was organized by
Dennis Saco has been aptly named B.R.I.D.G.E.S.
The acronym B.R.I.D.G.E.S stands
for Bohol Relief Initiatives & Developmental Group Entities
During our brainstorming, we agreed that
the word Bridge best describes us for we are the conduit, the channel or the
bridges between the private sector of donors & the victims/ affected
families
The use of the word Initiatives is
perfect also because the group after all was the result of the organizer’s
initiative and creativity
We also agreed to use the word Entities
because the group is composed of different volunteers/ members who come from various
backgrounds yet bound by the same goal: to help Bohol in its relief,
rehabilitation & recovery efforts
Please visit my Facebook page as well as
that of Dennis Saco so
you will be updated with the donations, donors and the scope of services
extended already
Thanks also to Youthlead
Phil for initiating and arranging the first coordination meeting of
the private sector- based relief goods organizations in Bohol.
Here are some photos taken during the meeting
2006 Bb Pilipinas World & 2005 Miss Bohol Anna Maris Igpit shares her experiences
Linton Jake Lim Gregorio raises a valid point during the coordination meeting
Of course our appreciation to the
various relief organizations that joined and expressed solidarity. God bless!
Here’s the message from John Maraguinot
who spearheaded the initial meeting last Monday at the San Antonio de Padua
Parish Church
“It's heartwarming and, at the
same time, entertaining to sit down and listen to fellow relief workers share
about their experiences in the field and the challenges they encountered while
doing their various relief activities.
The mapping activity, though a
simple one, conveyed to us all a powerful message - collaboration and
coordination.
I think its high time that our
colleagues in the private relief organizations sit down and come up with solid
recommendations to strengthen collaboration to make sure that we leave no
communities behind.
We need to do this for Bohol.
And here is the photo from Chrismael
Caldo that captures the optimism and resilience of Bohol and its people
Smiles in the midst of adversity
Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended
Eighty- seven of the planet’s most beautiful women have started arriving and stepping foot in Moscow, Russia for the 62nd edition of the world's most prestigious beauty competition
Coronation Night is set on November 9 at the Crocus City Hall, Moscow
Switzerland Spain & South Africa during arrival
The Philippine representative Ariella Ara Arida has already arrived in Moscow and hopes to become our third Miss Universe title holder after Gloria Diaz 1969 and Margie Moran 1973
